Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn a median of $29,990 a year ($14.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,150 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 6% lower than the Indiana statewide median of $31,840. There are 1.4 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $30,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,360 | $12.67 |
| 25th percentile | $27,440 | $13.19 |
| Median | $29,990 | $14.42 |
| 75th percentile | $35,660 | $17.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,150 | $17.86 |
| Average (mean) | $30,990 | $14.90 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,499.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,249.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,153.46 |
| Weekly | $576.73 |
| Hourly | $14.42 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,990 salary, see how much house you can afford in Indiana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35,670 | 12,200 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $35,190 | 440 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $34,630 | 130 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $33,400 | 120 |
| Kokomo, IN | $32,860 | 80 |
| Columbus, IN | $32,340 | 40 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $32,070 | 3,490 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $31,960 | 1,360 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $31,780 | 1,690 |
| Muncie, IN | $30,510 | 70 |
| Evansville, IN | $30,360 | 120 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,800 | 210 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in every state or the Indiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,230 | $13.57 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,420 | $13.67 |
| Bartender | $22,680 | $10.90 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,870 | $16.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,750 | $21.52 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,820 | $16.74 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,500 | $14.18 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,170 | $12.58 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,540 | $14.20 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| Dishwasher | $28,690 | $13.79 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $40,300 | $19.37 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area is $29,990 a year, or $14.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn at least $37,150 a year. The top 25% earn $35,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,360 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $27,440 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
About 140 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.